Coupling device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a coupling device for chain links ( 1 ) which comprise an elongated element ( 2 ) and which are provided with two pairs of eyes or loops ( 3, 4  and  5, 6  repectively). The coupling device ( 11 ) comprises a double-hook member ( 13 ) and is designed to cooperate, in a coupling position (K), with the eyes ( 3, 4 ) in one of the pairs of eyes by engagement from within of said eyes ( 3, 4 ). The double-hook member ( 13 ) is sized such that it is insetable into the chain link ( 1 ) through an interspace ( 9 ) between the shanks ( 7, 8 ) and connecting parts of the eyes ( 3, 4  or  5, 6 ) and then locatable or positionable in said coupling position (K) in the chain link ( 1 ).

The present invention relates to a coupling device for chain linkscomprising an elongated element and provided with two pairs of eyes, theeyes in each pair thereof being substantially parallel, said pairs beinglocated in two planes which are turned substantially in 90° relative toeach other and the eyes of the two pairs thereof having substantiallythe same size such that the chain links can be disconnected from eachother without using tools therefor or without changing the shape of saidchain links.

Chain links of the above type are previously known from the publicationEP 0 774 086. Since such chain links are easy to disassemble, they aresuitable for use in many different areas, e.g. for fastening oradjusting the trawl on a fishing boat.

An appropriate coupling device for use in connection with said chainlinks is however lacking, i.e. a coupling device which can be mounted orlocated on and removed from the chain links as simple and quickly assaid chain links themselves can be located or attached to each other orremoved or disassembled from each other, without using tools and withoutchanging the shape of the coupling device.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the abovementionedshortage and thus, provide an appropriate coupling device for the chainlinks in question. This is arrived at by providing the coupling devicesubstantially with the characterizing features of subsequent claim 1.

Since the coupling device is provided with said characterizing features,it is quickly and easily connectable to the chain links without the riskof loosening therefrom by accident. Furthermore, the coupling device isdurable and stable, which is important for being able to provide a chainwith advantageous characteristics.

The invention will be further described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two chain links and a coupling deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the chain links and shows the coupling devicein various positions during insertion thereof into one of said chainlinks;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the chain links and illustrates the couplingdevice in a position when inserted into the chain link and a positionafter rotation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the chain links and shows the coupling devicein a pivoted position and a coupling position;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the chain links and illustrates the couplingdevice in the coupling position as in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6-8 are side views of chain links having coupling devices ofvarious shapes.

The chain links 1 illustrated in the drawings comprise an endlesselongated element 2 and are provided with two pairs of eyes or loops,namely a first pair of eyes 3 and 4 and a second pair of eyes 5 and 6.The eyes in each pair of eyes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, aresubstantially parallel and the pairs are located in two planes P1, P2which are turned substantially in 90° relative to each other.Furthermore, the eyes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, of the two pairs havesubstantially the same size such that the chain links 1 can bedisconnected from each other without using tools therefor or withoutchanging the shape of said chain links.

Each chain link 1 has shanks 7 and 8 which connect the pairs of eyes 3,4 and 5, 6 and which also form part of said pairs of eyes. The chainlink 1 has an interspace 9 which connects to an interspace 10. Theinterspace 10 is found between the eyes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively. Theinterspace 9 is located between the shanks 7, 8 and said parts of thepairs of eyes 3, 4 and 5, 6. The width of the interspace 10 between theeyes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, is B2. The least or smallest width ofthe interspace 9 is found close to the interspace 10 and is B1. Thegreatest width of the interspace 9 is found at the eyes 5, 6 and is B4.

Various embodiments of a coupling device 11 are illustrated in thedrawings. Common to all embodiments is that the coupling device 11 has acoupling member 12 and a member 13 formed as a double hook and mountedtransverse relative to the coupling member 12. The length L1 of thedouble-hook member 13 is greater than the width B2 of the interspace 10between the eyes 3, 4 or 5, 6. The width B3 of the double-hook member 13is greater than the width B2 of the interspace 10 between the shanks 7,8. The length L1 of the double-hook member 13 may also be greater thanthe greatest width B4 of the interspace 9 between the shanks 7, 8.

Through this design of the coupling device 11, said coupling device canbe placed in a coupling position K wherein the double-hook member 13 istransverse to e.g. the plane P1 (see FIG. 5). Thereby, the double-hookmember 13 spans over the interspace 10 between the eyes—the eyes 3, 4 inthe illustrated embodiment. The double-hook member 13 engages fromwithin in said coupling position K, the eyes 3, 4 and the couplingmember 12 protrudes through the interspace 10 therebetween.

For locating the coupling device 11 in the coupling position K, saidcoupling device is displaced relative to the chain link 1 as shown inFIGS. 2-4. Thus, the coupling device 11 is placed with the double-hookmember 13 oriented in the longitudinal direction in parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the interspace 9, whereafter said double-hookmember 13 is inserted into the interspace 9 (arrow A, FIG. 2)—eventuallywith some turning (arrow B, FIG. 2) towards the pair of eyes 3, 4—untilit has reached an intermediate position M1 between the pairs of eyes 3,4 and 5, 6 illustrated with broken lines in FIG. 2 and with solid linesin FIG. 3.

In said intermediate position M1, the coupling device 11 and thus, thedouble-hook member 13, can be rotated about 90° (arrow C, FIG. 3) untilit reaches a second intermediate position M2, illustrated with brokenlines in FIG. 4, in which it is directed transverse relative to thelongitudinal direction of the interspace 9. From this intermediateposition M2, the double-hook member in the chain link 1 can be moved indirection D, FIG. 4, towards the pair of eyes 3, 4 to the couplingposition K.

At certain lengths L1 of the double-hook member 13, said member can bemoved into the interspace 9 directly to the position M2, i.e. withoutrotation.

For releasing the coupling device 11 from the chain link 1, the aboveprocedure is reversed.

Since the coupling device 11 for release or withdrawal from the chainlink 1 must be moved from the coupling position K to the intermediateposition M2 and then rotated in 90° to the intermediate position M1,accidental loosening of the coupling device 11 from the chain link 1 iseliminated, inter alia because the double-hook member 13 due to itslength L1 can not be withdrawn or pulled out through the interspace 9when it is located in the intermediate position M2.

As is apparent from the figures, the coupling member 12 of the couplingdevice 11 may be designed in various ways and cooperate with differentmembers or parts. At the embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 6, the couplingmember 12 has a hole 14. In this hole 14, a suitable coupling means,e.g. a coupling ring 15, as in FIG. 6, can be provided. In FIG. 6 thereis also illustrated a particular manner to use the chain link 1 and thecoupling device 11, namely as intermediate pieces between two wires 16,17.

Another alternative embodiment of the coupling device 11 is illustratedin FIG. 7, in which the coupling member 12 also has a member 18configured as a double hook and preferably twisted in 90° relative tothe double-hook member 13. A coupling device 11 of this design can beused e.g. as an intermediate piece between two chain links 1.

A third alternative embodiment of the coupling device 11 is found inFIG. 8, in which the coupling member is or has a pin 19 with a head 20.On the pin 19 within the head 20 there is rotatably journalled acoupling ring 21 or another suitable coupling means.

The illustrated chain link 1 and the coupling device 11 may consist ofmetallic material or any other suitable material and chains of chainlinks 1 and one or more coupling devices 11 can be used for attaching oradjusting trawls on fishing boats or in totally different connections.

With double-hook member 13 is meant a member which can be hooked ontothe chain links 1. Its shape may vary in such a way that its shanks arearcuate, straight or designed otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising: an elongated element havingfirst and second pairs of eyes located substantially parallel to eachother, said first pair of eyes being located on a first plane and saidsecond pair of eyes being located on a second plane 90° relative to saidfirst plane, first and second pairs of shanks located between andconnected with said first and second pairs of eyes, each eye of saidfirst and second pairs of eyes having substantially the same size suchthat a plurality of elongate elements coupled to each other aredisconnected from each other without using additional tools and withoutchanging the shape of said elongate element, a coupling device forcoupling said elongate element to another structure, said couplingdevice having an elongate coupling member, said coupling member having adouble hook member at one axial end of said coupling member, each hookof said double hook member extending perpendicular to said couplingmember and in opposite directions relative to each other, said doublehook member coupling to said first and second pair of eyes, said doublehook member having a width and a length which is greater than a width ofa first space defined between said first and second pair of eyes, thewidth of said double hook member being less than a greatest width of asecond space between said shanks, said double hook member coupling tosaid elongated element by passing through said second space and beingdisplaced relative to said elongated element towards said first andsecond pairs of eyes.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saiddouble hook member couples to said elongated element by rotating 90°from a first intermediate position relative to said elongated element toa second intermediate position.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein the length of said coupling member of said double hook member islarger than the greatest width of said second space.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein the length of said double hook memberprevents said double hook member from decoupling from said elongatedelement after reaching said second intermediate position.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said double hook member duringinsertion through said second space into said intermediate position ispivotable within said second space in a direction towards one of saidfirst and second pairs of eyes.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein said coupling member includes at least one hole located at asecond axial end for a coupling to said another structure.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device includes asecond double hook member at a second axial end, said second double hookmember having two hooks, each hook of said second double hook memberextending perpendicular to said coupling member and in oppositedirections relative to each other, said second double hook member beingfor coupling to another structure.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7wherein said first and second double hook members extend in directions90° relative to each other.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein said coupling device comprises a coupling member in the form ofa pin onto which a coupling means is rotatably journalled.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device is forcoupling links of a chain to said another structure for attaching,fastening and adjusting trawls on fishing boats.